Fall has arrived and it’s time for Oktoberfest.

According to Wallethub’s “2019’s Best Places for Oktoberfest Celebrations,” Tulsa is the 29th best bet for a rousing Oktoberfest party in the nation.

WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 24 key factors, ranging from share of German population (see related chart) to number of beer gardens per capita to average price for Oktoberfest celebration ticket.

Oklahoma City is No. 40 overall on the list.

Tulsa is No. 35 in Oktoberfest traditions, No. 12 in costs and No. 47 in safety and accessibility. Oklahoma City is No. 65 in Oktoberfest traditions, No. 2 in costs and No. 82 in safety and accessibility.

It’s cheaper to celebrate Oktoberfest in America than to travel to Europe. A typical flight from New York to Munich, Germany, costs between $500 and $1,000, according to WalletHub.

According to the report, “…this centuries-old celebration brings more than six million partiers to Munich for a couple weeks each October. Yet only about 2% of the crowd typically hails from the United States. And it’s little wonder why, considering the trip would cost the average American roughly $5,000, according to WalletHub estimates.

Many cities host their own festivals – most notably, Cincinnati and San Francisco. Even more local watering holes throw themed parties.

Tulsa has the biggest Oktoberfest party October 17-20 at the River West Festival Park. It includes German bands, Bavarian foods, bratwurst, and lots of beer drinking (see related story on Page 3).

“Oktoberfest can be a fun time for all,” said Professor Tammy Johnston of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. “However, anytime alcohol is served there are safety issues. Alcohol consumption impairs decision making and can lead to public disturbances and accidents.

“Authorities must have a presence at the event and make it clear that drinking age laws will be readily enforced and drinking amounts monitored. Often at events like this festival participants must be screened by authorities and have a wristband to be authorized to drink alcohol. Designated drinking areas also help to control issues. Authorities could also impose a drink limit by issuing tokens for the maximum number of drinks per person allowed. Festival participants need to be made aware of the expectations regarding alcohol consumption and this will help minimize problems later.”

Oktoberfest often lasts from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. It originated in early 19th century Munich.  Nearly 45 million German-Americans make up the largest single ethnic group.

Oklahoma City has the lowest beer price in the nation while New York has the highest, according to WalletHub.

Lincoln, Nebraska; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Madison, Wisconsin; and Omaha, Nebraska, are tied for being rated No. 1 in the highest percentage of German population. Hialeah, Florida is at the bottom at No. 100.

Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; and New York City are tied for the top spot in the most German restaurants per capita. Denver is at the bottom at No. 76.

San Diego, California; Sacramento, California; Tampa, Florida; and Jersey City, New Jersey, tied for the most Oktoberfest festivals and parties per capita while Phoenix, Arizona, has the fewest.

To view the report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-oktoberfest/24327/

Oktoberfest Facts:

  • $5,000: Estimated cost for an American to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
  • 1.98 Million: Gallons of beer consumed during Oktoberfest.
  • 510,000+: Number of whole roast chickens eaten, plus 60,000 sausages and 59,000 pork knuckles.
  • $1.43 Billion: Oktoberfest’s annual economic impact on Munich.
  • $70,120: Median annual income for German-American households ($60,336 for all households).

Oktoberfest in 2019 in Munich, Germany

  • October 12, 1810 was the first Oktoberfest in Munich to celebrate a royal wedding.
  • The official Oktoberfest in Munich lasts up to 18 days.
  • Oktoberfest has been canceled 24 times due to cholera outbreaks and war.
  • The attendance in Munich in 2018 was 6.3 million with an economic impact of $1.43 billion in tourism. The record for attendance was 7.1 million in 1985.
  • During Oktoberfest, 1.98 million gallons of beer were consumed. A one-liter serving of beer cost $12.66.
  • There were 717 cases of alcohol poisoning in Oktoberfest 2018.
  • Sixty thousand sausages were eaten. Fifty-nine thousand pork knuckles were consumed.
  • Seventy percent of the attendees are from Bavaria. Fifteen percent are from abroad. Fourteen of the foreign visitors are from the United States. (It costs about $5,000 for an American to attend in Munich.)
  • Cincinnati, Ohio, has the most popular Oktoberfest in the U.S. (called Oktoberfest Zincinnati). Last year, 80,500 bratwursts were served and 1,875 pounds of German potato salad were eaten. They served 24,000 soft pretzels, 64,000 sauerkraut balls and 56,250 sausages. Two thousand barrels of beer were consumed and 110-plus varieties of beer were available.
  • One hundred Dachshunds entered a dog race during Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.
  • There are at least 7,450 breweries in the United States.
  • Famous German/Americans include Albert Einstein, actor Bruce Willis, actress Sandra Bullock and NBA star Dirk Nowitzki.